No holiday is complete without sweets. Confectionery products are equally loved by both adults and children. Fragrant, chocolate, with a unique filling, in bright packaging. They are so different, but welcome since childhood. Each product has its own characteristics, chocolate history. Let's talk about the past and present of the Squirrel sweets.
Sweetness with nuts
Trademarks of chocolates, which were produced in Soviet times, are considered the property of our country. One of them is the legendary Squirrel. It still remains in demand in the consumer market. The composition of the Squirrel candies is familiar to everyone. The unique taste of chocolate in combination with crushed hazelnuts is the best that the Soviet manufacturer could come up with.
These sweets attracted the attention of children and were eaten by the first of New Year's gifts. Unhampered teens beckoned overseas taste of hazelnuts. Time passed, and respect for the legend did not change. A product with a nimble squirrel with a nut in its paws on the packaging is the confectionery heritage of our country in the 20th century.
How it all started
A confectionery work of art in a green wrapper, on which a red animal flaunts with a hazelnut in its paws, is familiar to many. But few people thought about when the first "Squirrel" appeared.
The production of sweets goes back to the 1940s. A product popular in Soviet times was made at the factory named after N.K. Krupskaya, which was part of the Leningrad production association of the confectionery industry. Squirrel sweets included only natural ingredients: chocolate icing, powdered sugar, grated cocoa, roasted nut, cocoa butter and vanillin. No preservatives, food additives.
Such sweets were not cheap, but the price justified their quality and did not stop buyers. The volume of finished products reached thousands of tons. The release of the Soviet "Squirrel" at the N.K. Krupskaya confectionery did not stop even the blockade. Dark green labels from thick paper were found on every holiday table, in New Year's gifts. Over the years, the composition of the Squirrel sweets has changed, the quality has expanded, and production has expanded. But this did not spoil the taste preferences of customers.
A few words about the manufacturers
Modern "Squirrel" is not the same. Over the years, not only the appearance of chocolates, taste, composition, but also the manufacturer has changed. These days, confectionery factories Slavyanka, Krasny Oktyabr, Kommunarka, and Babaevsky combine are engaged in production. Each manufacturer makes its own unique notes in the legendary product. They are trying to follow the classic recipe and the Soviet appearance of the green label, some factories do better, others worse. It is up to the consumer to decide.
Babaevskaya Candy - the choice of buyers
The oldest confectionery factory in Moscow is trying to maintain Soviet chocolate traditions. The green label is proof of this. The changes affected the components.
The composition of the Babaevka Squirrel sweets includes sugar, grated cocoa and cocoa powder, vegetable oil, wheat flour, chopped cashews and hazelnuts, E322, E476, flavoring, ascorbic acid. The presence of food additives does not spoil the taste of the product, but improves them. Licetin (E322) extends the shelf life of chocolate products, and polyglycerin (E476) provides a uniform texture.
Babaevskaya "Squirrel" is in demand among buyers. It does not contain chemical preservatives, palm oil, has a pleasant taste and aroma. The products of this confectionery factory have an affordable price. It can be found in every grocery store. Shredded pieces of natural nuts in combination with a delicate taste of pralines enhance the mood not only for children but also for adults. Chocolates blend perfectly with a cup of hot flavored tea or coffee.
"Squirrel" from "Red October" is dangerous to health
Another Moscow factory followed the tradition of making Soviet delicacies. The technology for the production of sweets in green packaging is no different from other enterprises. But the quality of its chocolate products has claims not only from consumers, but also from auditors. Representatives of Roskontrol found palm oil in the composition of the Squirrel candies (Red October), the presence of which does not correspond to the classical recipe. The presence of trans-isomers of fatty acids resulting from modifications of liquid vegetable oils harms the human body, leading to diabetes, atherosclerosis, and heart disease. For such non-compliance with safety requirements, Roskontrol blacklisted the products of the Moscow factory.
Belarusian classics from Kommunarka
The composition of the Squirrel sweets from this manufacturer corresponds to the classic recipe. Minsk chocolate products are made on the basis of cocoa butter with the addition of fried crushed hazelnuts. In addition to the main components, there is a flavor in sweets. On a green label, a nimble squirrel with a nut in his hands flaunts familiarly. The products of the Minsk factory can be purchased both by weight and in gift boxes.
You can appreciate the modern "Squirrel", based on expert opinion, customer reviews, but it is better to focus on your own taste sensations. Do not give up Soviet delicacies. Without it, the holiday will not be the same.